Music and film industries have launched worldwide educational programmes in a bid to deter P2P use and encourage the development of legal digital alternatives, before resorting to the courts.  To date, 17 countries have launched legal action against P2P users, resulting in fines averaging $3,000.

Liability does not only lie with the person engaged in illegal activity on a computer, but also on the internet account holder or the owner of the computer.  This is why companies and parents may be at risk of being found liable if they are not aware of what their employees/children are doing on their computers. 

The music industry has developed a tool that enables the user to block or delete file-sharing programmes found on their computer.  Digital File Check is a simple, free software designed to help people use music, video and image files on their computers and on the internet safely and legally.

Digital File Check is available in 8 languages (English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish) and will:
 
1. Identify and easily uninstall or block unwanted ‘file-sharing’ software on your computer so that you avoid being a conscious or unconscious illegal file-sharer.

2. Help you search and delete individual files from the "shared folders" part of your computer. Keeping any copyrighted material in these folders is likely to be illegal.
 
3. Go through a simple inventory of all music, movie and picture files on your computer.
 
DFC is a free tool for private use at home or in the office at your discretion - it does not tip-off any anti-piracy groups or authorities.